Russia expects record grain harvest, 127 million tons this year

Russia expects a record grain harvest of more than 127 million tons this year, which could restore its leadership in wheat exports this crop year, Agriculture Minister Alexander Tkachev said last night.

So far, 85 percent of sown areas have been harvested, he told a government meeting.

"We can confidently say that a record harvest will be collected in the entire history of Russia, including the Soviet times," the minister said, recalling Russia's previous record of 127 million tons in 1978.

Tkachev said an additional 100 million tons of grain could be harvested if crop-growing areas expand to the 1978 acreage of 78 million hectares from the current 47 million hectares.

Russia, a major exporter, may sell around 45 million tons of grain, including 30 million tons of wheat, if the situation is favorable in the 2017-2018 crop year ending in July 2018, Tkachev said.

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